PREPARING
SHS STUDENTS
FOR SUCCESS ON
THE SAT AND
THE ACT
WHY DID MY CHILD TAKE THE PSAT?
• It assesses critical reading, math reasoning and
writing skills
• It gives specific suggestions on improving
academic skills
• It helps students prepare for SAT—and gives
them a free personalized plan
• It is the only way to enter the National Merit
competition
• It is a way to request free information from
Colleges & universities
• It allows students to se College Quick Start for
free college and career resources
PSAT RESULTS
Your child will receive
results after the
second semester
begins.
Your child’s teacher or
guidance counselor
will go over the
results, then send the
results home.
WHEN SHOULD STUDENTS
TAKE THE SAT AND ACT?
We recommend juniors
take it during the late
fall or spring semester.
Students should then
re-take the test as
needed until they get
the score they need to
qualify for a Bright
Futures Scholarship or
get into the college of
their choice.
SAT/ACT
DATES, COST & REGISTRATION
SAT
December 3
January 28
March 10
May 5
June 2
ACT
$49.00
www.collegeboard.org
December 10
February 11
April 14
June 9
$49.50
www.actstudent.org
SAT OR ACT…
THAT IS THE QUESTION!
How many times is the test
administered each year?
Is there a penalty for wrong
answers?
SAT
Offered seven times a year
SAT
Yes
ACT
Offered six times a year
ACT
No
WHAT IS THE TEST STRUCTURE OF
THE SAT AND ACT?
• SAT is a ten-section exam; three Critical Reading, three
Math, three Writing, and one Experimental
• The Experimental section is masked to look like a regular
section
• ACT is a four-test exam; English, Math, Reading, Science
Reasoning, and an optional Writing test
• An Experimental test is added to exams on certain days only
and is clearly labeled experimental.
WHAT IS THE TEST CONTENT?
SAT:
Math: up to basic geometry and algebra II
Science: none
Reading: sentence completion; short and long critical reading passages;
reading comprehension
Writing: an essay; questions testing grammar, usage, and word choice
ACT:
Math: up to trigonometry
Science: charts; experiments
Reading: four passages, one each of prose fiction, social sciences,
humanities, and natural sciences
English: stresses grammar
Writing: an essay (optional, but most colleges and universities now require
it)
HOW IS THE TEST SCORED?
SAT:
• 200-800 for each subject, added together for a combined
score
• 2400 is the highest possible combined score
ACT:
• 1-36 for each test, averaged together for a composite score
• 36 is the highest possible composite score
ARE ALL SCORES
SENT TO SCHOOLS?
SAT: Yes.
• If a student requests a score report be sent to specific
colleges, then the report will include the scores the student
received on every SAT taken.
ACT: No.
• There is a “Score Choice” option. Students can choose
which schools will receive their scores AND which scores
the schools will see.
ARE THERE OTHER PURPOSES
FOR THE SCORES?
SAT:
Scholarship purposes and certain statewide testing programs.
ACT:
Scholarship purposes and certain statewide testing programs.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO
REGISTER?
SAT: At least six weeks before the test date
ACT: At least four weeks before the test date
THE ESSAY ON THE SAT AND THE ACT
Both the SAT and the ACT include an essay. Not surprisingly, there are
differences between the two.
SAT: The essay is mandatory.
The essay is the first section on the exam. The essay is graded
holistically (a fancy way of saying that the essay is graded as a whole
instead of a collection of criteria). There is a time limit of 25 minutes.
ACT: The essay is optional., but again, most colleges and universities
would like you to take it.
If you decide to do the essay, you’ll find it at the end of the exam. The
ACT essay is graded according to a strict rubric (a fancy way of saying
that certain criteria must be met to earn a given score). There is a time
limit of 30 minutes.
Examples of SAT and ACT Writing Prompts:
ACT: In your view, should high schools become more tolerant of
cheating?
SAT: What is your view of the claim that something unsuccessful still
can have some value?
Both require that you handwrite the essay.
Also, both the SAT and the ACT essays are scored similarly. Two graders
will read your essay and each assign it a score of 1-6. These scores are
then added together to produce a final score of 2-12.
NEED MORE INFORMATION?
FOR THE SAT: Visit The College Board at
www.collegeboard.org
FOR THE ACT: Call 319-337-1000 or visit
www.actstudent.org